Wpd Takes Legal Action over French Offshore Wind Tender Decision

After the results of the second French tender for offshore wind, Germany-based wind power developer wpd challenged the results of Vendée project and initiated legal action on the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) assessment.

The company said that it wants to understand the analysis of the bids made by the CRE, which was followed by the French Government. 

On the basis of the public information shared during the tender phase, wpd challenges the technical and economical reliability of the offer submitted by its competitor, a consortium made of GDF SUEZ, EDP Renewables, Neoen Marine and AREVA .

Wpd stated that it has filed a legal action (“référé précontractuel”) to the Administrative Court, with the objective to ensure, under the independent authority of the judge, that the analysis has been strictly assessed in the light of the tender specifications. In its submission, wpd reported significant weaknesses on 9 out of the 16 tender criteria evaluation that would modify the rating of the candidates, and then the final award decision.

The company said: “For example, the choice of the type of foundation is crucial in an offshore wind project development for the project cost (30% of project investment), the environmental impact assessment and the project schedule. Wpd and its partners, EDF and Alstom, are the only Consortium that achieved a geotechnical campaign on the site, mandatory to confirm the soil characteristics, which led to select a non-anchored foundation (GBS).

“The other Consortium (GDF-EDP-AREVA) did not achieve such offshore campaign, and they have selected an anchored foundation (jacket), which is not compatible with the soil conditions and causes a significant risk on the project, and was deemed to affect several tender criteria.”

The schedule of the offshore wind project will not be severely affected by the process, whatever the results.